Sot win

This is Makip.  He has asthma.  Although I had never taken care of him until recently, his face was familiar.  He frequently visits the outpatient department for medicine refills, and the ER for breathing treatments whenever he is "sot win" or "short of breath."

I saw him in clinic for the first time a few weeks ago.  The asthma was acting up that day and his lungs were full of wheezes.  Since he was relatively stable, I added some steroids and antibiotics to his normal medications and planned a follow up visit in a couple of days.

Apparently Makip wasn't as stable as I thought, or at least he continued to worsen throughout the day.  He came back to the ER that night for another breathing treatment.  The nursing officer allowed him to sleep on medical ward until he could see a doctor in the morning.

I was on call that same night.  The phone rang about 2 AM.  A patient on medical ward was about to stop breathing.  I stumbled out of bed and drove madly to the hospital.  I was surprised to see Makip, unconscious and barely breathing.  His lungs were so tight I could hardly hear the air move.  I quickly gave orders to the nursing staff--continuous nebulizer treatments, IV steroids, sub-Q epinephrine, and IV aminophylline.  Slowly he regained consciousness.  I began to hear wheezing, evidence that air was now moving through through his lungs.  After about an hour, he was more stable.  I headed home for a bit more sleep.

Over the next few days, Makip continued to improve.  I saw him each morning on rounds.  The wheezing began to resolve and he was breathing easier.  After about a week on the ward, he was ready to go home.  

Makip is just one our many miracles at Kudjip Hospital.  Thank the Lord for his healing touch!

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."

~ Job 12:10